Heater



UCL 7, 1941 s. MoRlcl ETAL 2,257,756

Y HEATER Filed oct. 7, 1940 sheetssheet 1 ffy . Oct. 7, 1941. s. MuoRlCl ETAL HEATER Filed oct. 7, '1940, 2 sheets-.sheet 2 Patentedl Oct. 7, 1941 HEATER Salvatore Morici, Pasqual P. Belvedere, and Y Edwin Blom, C hicago. Ill.

Application October 7', 1940, Serial No. 360,142A

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in.

means for automatically establishing pressure upon a body of liquid fuel for the purpose of passing said fuel under pressure to a burner.

In one of the specific aspects of our invention, a eld in which our invention is ideally adapted, the'invention contemplates means for automatically maintaining the cooling water of an internal combustion engine at a relatively constant predetermined temperature, preferably inv the neighborhood of the normal operating temperature of said cooling water, the arrangement being such that the predetermined constant cooling water temperature is maintained during periods when the engine is inoperative.

The objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the accompanying draw-` ings and following detailed description.

In the drawings,

Fi'g. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of our invention, as applied to an internal combustion engine. r

Fig'. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a modication of our invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, I indicates a conventional water cooled internal combustion engine having an intake manifold 2. A radiator 3 is associated with the engine I and the upper portion of said radiator is connected tothe water `iacket of the engine by means of the pipe 2li. A discharge pipe 5 connects into the lower portion of the radiator 3 at one end and connects into a conventional water pump 6 at the opposite end, the pipe 5 comprising the intake to the pump 6. The pump 6 is of conventional construction and is driven by any suitable means from the internal combustion vengine I. v

Pipe 1 comprises the discharge pipe of pump 6 and water drawn from the radiator 3 by means of pump 6 is discharged through the pipe 1. The pipe 1 connects into a water jacket 8 of contion of the water short circuits the Jacket s and passes directly from pipe 1vto pipe |4 and into the water jacket of the engine vI. v

A fuel supply tank I8 adapted to carry a' bulk supply I9 of gasoline is associated with the engine I. The tank I8 is provided with an opening 28 at its bottom, with a compartment 2|, defined by walls 22 mounted upon the lower portion of the tank I8. A iioat 23 'is positioned in the compartment 2| and carries at its upper end a valve pin 24. The` float 231s adapted for vertical movement within the compartment 2| and is guided by means of guides 25 so as to center the pin 24 with the opening 20.

A pipe 26 connectsthe lower portion of the compartment 2| to the interior 21 of the container 9.

The top I2 of the container 9 is provided with an opening 28, a compartment 28 defined by walls 30 is provided immediately beneath the opening 28, the walls 3U being secured to the under surface of the top I2. A pipe 3| communicates with the compartment 29 and extends downwardly into the compartment 21, said pipe being open at its lower end and is positioned adjacent the bottom I3 ofthe container. A float 32 is positioned within the compartment 29 and carriesa pin 33 at its upper portion. The float 32 is adapted for vertical movement within the compartment 28 and guides 34 are provided within the compartment 29 whereby the pin 33 may be centered with the opening 28. A check valve 35 is positioned in an opening in the wall 30 `which permits communication from the compartment 29 to the compartment 21, communication in the lopposite direction being prevented.

-When gasoline I9 is introduced into the tank I8, said gasoline iiows through the opening 20 tainer 9. The container 9 is provided with outer lateral walls I0 and spaced inner lateral walls |I, the walls I0 and deiining the jacket 8 into which water from the pump 6 is discharged. The container 9 is also provided with a top I2 and bottom I3. A pipe I4 connects into the upper portion of the jacket 8 at' one end and at the opposite end connects into the water jacket of the internal combustion engine as at I5. A pipe I6 connects pipe 1 to pipe I4, pipe I6 carrying a valve I1. By closing valve I1 all of the water from the pump 6 is diverted from pipe 1, jacket 8 and pipe I4. If valve I1 is open the major porinto the compartment 2 I. Pins 36 are positioned at the lower portion of the compartment 2| and prevent the oat 23 from closing the upper portion of the pipe 26. The gasoline therefore passes downwardly through pipe 26 and into compartment 21. As the gasoline passes into compartment 21 the level of the gasoline in pipe 3| follows the level of the gasoline in the main portion of the compartment 21. As the gasoline moves above the lower portion of the compartment 29, the float 32 begins to raise and eventually the pin 33 sets in the aperture 28. When this occurs, further introduction of gasoline from the tank I8 causes compression of the atmosphere above the level of the gasoline in the compartment 21 and eventually the head of gasoline from said opening communicating tank I6 is balanced by the pressure within the compartmentu21 and a condition of equilibrium is established.

A pipe 61 connects at one end into the lower `portion of compartment 21. .At the opposite end pipe 31' connects into jet 38. The jet 36 comprises a portion of fuel burner 39. The burner 39 is provided withaI tubular member'40 which is open at both ends, the lower portion of the tubular member being provided with apertures 4I for the introduction of air into the tubular member 40. At its lower end the tubular member is mounted upon an inverted cup-like element 42 which is connected by means of a corrugated metallic element 43 to a pin 44.

Pipe 1 connecting the water pump 6 to the jacket 8 is relatively enlarged as indicated at 45 adjacent its point of connection into the Jacket 6. Within the enlarged portion 45 of the pipe 1, a thermostat 46 is positioned, the upper portion of the thermostat being connected to rod 44 which projects upwardly through the enlarged portion 45 o f pipe 1. The corrugated element 43 forms a portion of a cup-like member, the corrugations comprising the lateral walls of the cup. The bottom 41 of said cup-like member is connected by flanges 48 to an intermediate portion of the rod 44.

The operation of the thermostat 46 is such that .when it is heated it expands and moves the rod 44 upwardly. However, in view of the fact that the bottom 41 is rigidly connected to the rod 44, said bottom also moves upwardly. The remaining portion of the burner 39 is stationary and, consequently, the upward movement of the bottom 41 tends to compress`the corrugations 43 which permit relative movement of the rod 44 with respect to the upper portion of the burner. The upp'er end `of rod 44 passes into the jet 38 and upward movement of the rod 44 tends to close aperture 49 provided in the jet 38. Consequently, when the thermostat 46 has been heated to a predetermined degree, therod 44 will close the aperture 49 and no fuel will pass from the pipe 31 into the tubular portion 40`of the burner. In viewl ofthe fact that the thermostat 46 is responsive to the temperature of the water passing from the pump 6, the movement of the rod 44 in response to variations of water temperature, tends to control the amount of fuel which is passed through the jet 38.

In order to insure the closing of the opening 49 when the internal combustion engine is in operation, a vacuum cylinder 44 carrying piston 45 which is slidably positioned in the cylinder, is mounted adjacent the burner. A piston rod 46 is carried by piston 45 and is connected with arm 55. A pipe 41' connects the intake manifold 2.and the upper portion of cylinder 4'4', whereby operation of engine I causes a vacuum in the intake 2, thereby moving piston 45' upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1. Upward movement of the piston moves pin 44 upwardly thereby closing the opening 49, preventing further heating of the water by the burner. A spring 46' is confined between vthe upper portion of the piston 45 and the cylinder end and functions to urge the piston downwardly whenv the vacuum in the cylinder is broken, thereby permitting movement of pin 44 in response to thermostat 46.

A thermostat 50 of conventional construction is mounted upon the outer surface of the tubular member 46 and is responsive to the temperature of said tubular member. The thermostat 50 carries an arm 5I which in tum supports a contact point 52 which is adapted to cooperate with an adjacentcontact point 56 carried by an arm 54. An arm 55 is carried upon an intermediate portion of rod 44, said arm carrying a contact point 56 which cooperates with an adjacent contact point 51 carried by an arm 56.

A battery 59, which may comprise the storage battery utilized in conjunction with the internal combustion engine, is connected by lead 66 to a conventional spark coil 6I. The opposite side of the battery 59 is also connected to the spark coil 6I by means of lead 62, the leads 68 and 62 constituting thelow tension leads to the spark coil. One ofthe high tension leads of the spark coil designated 63, connects to arm 56. A lead 64 connects arm 55 to arm 5I and a lead 65 connects arm 54 to an electrode 66 which projects into the interior of the tubular space dened by the tubular space defined by the tubular member 40. The opposite high tension lead 61 from the spark coil 6I connects with an electrode 66 which is'positioned oppositely to electrode 66, the electrodes 66 and 68 providing a spark gap between their ends. The gap between the electrode 66 and 68 is immediately above and in alignment with the aperture 49 of jet 38.

In operation assume that the engine I comprises the engine of an automobile which is being driven in relatively low temperature weather. If the motorist stops the automobile and renders the engine inoperative, the cooling water in the internal combustion engine system soon becomes cold. Experience indicates that diiculty is frequently encountered in starting the engine after it has become cold. Utilizing the present invention, however, operation of the internal combustion engine heats the water within the cooling system, and inasmuch vas said water passes through the 'jacket space 6, heat is imparted to the gasoline or other fuel which is positioned in the compartment 21. After the fuel within the compartment 21 is heated, a portion of said fuel vaporizes and the pressure of the atmosphere above the level of the fuel within the compartment increases. WithY this increase in pressure there is a tendency to discharge fuel backwardly through the pipe 26. However, motion of the fuel upwardly in pipe 26 causes float 23 to move upwardly whereby pin 24 closes the aperture 26 and prevents "back-up of fuel from the compartment 21 to the tank I6. It can readily be seen, however, that vthe fuel within the compartment 21 is under superatmospheric pressure During operation of the engine I the temperature of the cooling water is maintained at its normal operating temperature. The thermostat 46 is so adjusted that when the water in the cooling system is at its normal operating temperature, the aperture 49 in the jet 36 is closed.` Consequently, during the operation of the engine I, no fuel is 'passed through the pipe 31 and discharged from the jet 36.

Assume, now, that the automobile is stopped and the engine rendered inoperative. condition takes place the water temperature begins to drop. When the temperature of the cooling water has lowered a predetermined degree, contact point 56 makes the electrode contact with the contact point 51 and, hence, closes the high tension circuit of the spark coil 6I, thermostat 56 being so adjusted that when in relatively cold condition contact points 52 and 53 are closed.

At this stage a spark is produced between the electrodes 66 and 66. Of course, the movement of the thermostat 46 which permitted the contact When suchl points 56 and 51 to close, also caused the rod 44 to move downwardly and open aperture 49. AThe fuel 21 being at superatmospherlc pressure is forced through the opening 49 of the jet 38 and is ignited by the spark produced at the spark gap.-

It can readily be seen that the flame produced in the cylinder 40 is immediately beneath the tension circuit causing a discontinuance of the spark between the electrodes 55 and 88. As the ame continues the temperature of the waterds increased and as this action takes place the thermostat 48 tends to expand thereby decreasing the flame at the burner. It can readily be.

seen that by proper adjustment of the rod 44 in conjunction with thermostat 45, the water temperature can be maintained substantially constant.

When the engine I is again started the water temperature reaches its normal operating condition and, consequently, as long as the engine is maintained in operation no flame will be produced at the burner. When no flame is produced at the burner the thermostat 50 causes the contact points 52 and 53 to close and. hence. the system is in readiness for lthe next stoppage of the engine.y As fuel is withdrawn from thecompartment 21 the liquid level of the fuel within said compartment lowers. However, in view of the fact that the compartment 21 is always surrounded by substantially hot water, the pressure withinthe compartment 21 is maintained substantially constant and the pinf33 will not be removed from the openfing 28 unless a substantial equilibrium of pressure exists between the interior. of the compartment 21 and the exterior thereof, which will only be the case when the fuel within the compartment 21 reaches a very low level. At this time the pin 24 is unseated and more fuel passes from the tank I8 to the compartment 21.

Referring in detau to Fig. 2 of the drawings.,l

a modification of our invention is shown as applied to an internal combustion engine. 10 indicates a conventional water cooled internal combustion engine having an'intake manifold il. A pipe 12 connects into the manifold lli and at its opposite end connects into the interior of cylinder 13. A piston 'i4 carried by a piston rod '15 is slidably positioned within the cylinder` 13. A coil spring 16 is confined between the head of the cylinder and the piston and normally urges said piston outwardly.'

The arrangement is such that when the internal combustion engine is in operation, a condition of vacuum isset up in the intake manifold 1I. Vacuum is established within the cylinder 13 between the piston and the head of said cylinder whereby the pistonv 14 is retracted against the impulse of spring 15. When the internal combustion engine 10 is'rendered inoperative, spring 16 tends to move piston 14 outwardly.

A fuel tank 11 is employed to carry a bulk supply of gasoline 18. A pipe 19 connects into the upper portion of the fuel tank 1.1 and is provided with an open end which is disposed adjacentthe lower portion of the tank. A T-coupling 80 is connected in pipe 19 and a branch pipe 8| connects intosaid coupling. The pipe 19 connects into the interior of a container 82 adjacent the upper portion of said container. Pipe 8| also connects into .the container 82 adjacent the lower portion of said container. A check valve 88 is connected in pipe 8| and opens towards the container 82. However, the check valve 83 prevents passage of liquid from the container 82 through the pipe 8l.

A piston 84 is slidably positioned within the container 82, said piston comprising a disc 85 carrying a flexible washer or flange 85. 'I'he flange or washer 88 is preferably constructed of leather, Neon-ene, .ThiokoL or other flexible material which is not deleteriously affected by gasoline. A piston rod 81 is connected to the disc 85 and extends upwardly from said disc through an opening 88 provided in the upper end of the container 82. A lug 83 is mounted upon the upper portion of the container 82 and a bell crank lever is Iournalled in said lug as at 88. One arm 8| of the bell crank connected to the end of the lpiston rod 15. The other arm 82 of the bell crank lever is pivotally connected to the end of the piston rod 81.'

The'arrangement is such that'when the piston rod 15 is moved outwardly or inwardly, the bell crank lever is rocked about the pivot 90. When the piston rod 15 moves inwardly into the cylinder 13, the piston- 84 is raised within the container 82. When the piston rod 15 moves .out-- wardly from thev cylinder 1l the piston 8411s moved downwardly or inwardly. into container 82. The arms- 9| and 92 of the bell crank lev'er are provided with suitable slots at their ends to compensate for the angularity of movement of the rods 15 and 81.v

A transverse support 83 is mounted upon the upper portion of the-piston rod 81 and coil Isprings 94 are anchored upon opposite ends of said rod. At the opposite ends of the coil springs 94 said springs are anchored upon lugs 95 carriedI at the lower portion of the container 82.

I'he arrangement is such that when the internal combustion engine is set into operation the piston 14 is drawn into cylinder 13. This action causeslpiston 84 to raise within the container ,82. A suction is thereby established in Vpipes 8| and 19 and liquid fuel 18 is drawn through said pipes into the container 82. -Simultaneously with the raising of the piston 84, springs 94 are stretched and a predetermined degree of potential energy is established in said springs. However, so long as the internal combustion engine is in operation, the piston 84 is maintained in raised position and will not defscend under the influence of the springs 94.

A pipe 96 connects into the lower portion of container 82 at one end and at the opposite end may connect into a burner similar to the burner 39 hereinbefore described, the burner functioning in the same manner as the burner 39, that is, to maintain the cooling water of the internal combustion engine at a predetermined temperature. Obviously, when the engine 10 is in operation and the piston 84 is in its upper position, no pressure is established on the liquid within the container 82 and, consequently, no liquid under pressure is passed through the pipe 98 to the burner. Obviously, at this phase of the operation of the device it is unnecessary to have the burner in operation since the cooling water is being properly heated by the internal combustion engine operation. However, when the engine 10 is rendered inoperative, a vcondition 'of vacuum is no longer established in the cylinder 13, and the piston 84 is free to descend lever is pivotally 4 provision of the flexible washer 8l, the liquid within the container 82 is prevented from passing the piston.- As the piston descends under the influence of springs 94, liquid fuel from the container 82 is passed backwardly into the tank 11 through the pipe 19. However, due to the presence of the check valve 83, no liquid passes from the container 82 through the pipe 8|. Hence, when the piston 84 has descended below the point of communication of pipe 19 with container 82, a condition of pressure is established upon the liquid within the container 82 and, consequently, fuel under pressure is forced through the pipe 96 to lthe burner and is utilized in the burner -in the manner hereinbefore described in conjunction with burner 39.

Of course, it is to be understood that as many springs $4 'may be employed as are necessary to produce the desired degreeV of pressure upon the liquid passed to the burner. In addition, we do not wish to be limited to the specific arrangement illustrated for lifting the piston 84 since antimonia l this can be accomplished by hand or can be accomplished by any type of linkage or mechanism which will associate a vacuum cylinder with the piston 84.

Broadly, our invention can be utilized for other purposes than the maintenance of the cooling water at a predetermined temperature. For instance, pressure established in the mechanism i1- lustrated in Fig. 2 may be utilized in conjunction with oil stoves or the like wherein it is desired to force liquid fuel under pressure to a burner.

In conjunction with the specific application of our invention to an internal combustion engine, the pressure container 82 may be interposed in the fuel pipe line between the supply tank of the automobile and the fuel pump of the automobile.

In this case it need only be necessary to interpose the 'container 82 in the pipe 19 and a continuation 19' of said pipe may connect directly to the fuel pump (not shown) of the automobile. -Ob viously, while the enginev 'Ill is in operation, the piston 84 is in raised position and, consequently, there is a free passage of fuel from the fuel tank from the internal combustion -engine cooling system, a burner disposed in heating relation with the water in said cooling system, said burner being in communication with the lower portion of said pressure container whereby liquid fuel from said pressure container is passed to saidv burner, and thermostatic means for controlling the passage of liquid fuel from said pressure container to the burner.

3. A heater for the cooling water of an internal combustion engine which comprises in combination, a tank for carrying a bulk supply of liquid fuel, a pressure container for carrying liquid fuel, means for passing liquid fuel from said tank to said container, a container for engine cooling water in heat interchange relationship with said pressure container whereby the heat of said water causes vaporization of a portion of fuel in said pressure container to establish a condition of superatmospheric pressure in said pressure container, connections into said water container from theinternal combustion engine cooling system, a burner disposed in heating relation with the water in said cooling system, said burner' being in communication with said pressure container whereby liquid fuel from said pressure container is passed to said burner, and thermostatic means for controlling the passage of liquid fuel from said pressure container to the burner.

4. A heater for the cooling water of an internal combustion engine which comprises in combination, a tank for carrying a bulk supply of liquid fuel, a pressure container for carrying liquid fuel, means for passing liquid fuel from said tank to said container, awater jacket carried by said pressure container, means connecting said water jacket to the cooling water system of an internal combustion engine whereby heat from through the pipe 19, container 82 and pipe 19' to the fuel pump.

We claim as our invention:

1. vA heater for thecooling water of an internal combustion engine which comprises in combination, a tank for carrying a bulk supply of liquid fuel, a pressure container for carrying liquid fuel, means for passing liquid fuel from said tank to said container, means carried by said pressure container for subjecting said liquid fuel in said container to superatmospheric pressure, a fuel burner in heating relationship with the cooling water of an internal combustion engine, means for passing liquid fuel under superatmospheric pressure from said container to the burner, means responsive to the temperature of the cooling water for controlling the passage of fuel to saidburner.

, 2. A heater for the cooling water of an internal combustion engine which comprises in combination, a-tank for carrying a bulk supply of liquid fuel, a pressure container for carrying liquid fuel, means for passing liquid fuel from said tank to said container, a container for engine cooling water in heat interchange relationship with said pressure container whereby the heat of said water causes vaporization of a portion of iuel in said pressure, container to establish a condition of superatmospheric pressure in said pressure container, connections into said water container said cooling water passes tothe liquid fuel in said pressure vcontainer and causes a condition' of superatmospheric pressure therein, a burner disposed in heating relation with the water in said cooling system, means connecting said burner and the ypressure container whereby liquid fuel under pressure passes to said burner, and thermostatic means for controlling the passage of liquid fuel fromv said pressure container` to the burner.

5. A heater for the cooling water of an internal combustion engine which comprises in combination, a tank for carrying a. bulk supply of liquid fuel, a pressure container for carrying liquid fuel, means for passing liquid fuel from said tank to said container, a water jacket carried by said pressure container, means connecting said water jacket to the cooling water system of an internal combustion engine whereby heat from said cooling water passes to the liquid fuel in said pressure container and causes a condition of superatmospheric pressure therein, a burner disposed in heating relation with the water in said cooling system, means connecting said burner and the pressure container whereby liquid fuel under pressure passes to said burner, and thermostatic means responsive to the temperature lof the cooling water for controlling the passage of liquid fuel from said pressure container to the burner.

6. A heater for the cooling water of an internal combustion engine which comprises in combination, a tank for carrying a bulk supply of liquid fuel, a pressure container for carrying liquid fuel, means for passing liquid fuel from said tank to said container, a piston slidably posisaid container. said burner being in heating re-l lationship with the cooling water system of an internal combustion engine. I

7. A heater for the cooling water of an internal combustion engine which comprises in combination, a tank for lcarrying a bulk. supply of liquid fuel, a pressure container for carrying liquid fuel, means for passing liquid fuel from said tank to said container, a piston slidably positioned in said pressure container, a burnenconnections between said pressure container and said burner, and means of passing liquid fuel under pressure from said container to said burner which comprises a spring for moving said piston into contact with the liquid fuel in said container, said burner being in heating relationship with the cooling water system of an internal combustion engine.

8. A heater for the cooling water of an internal combustion engine which comprises in combination, a tank for carrying a buik supply of liquid fuel, a pressure container for carrying liquid fuel, means for drawing liquid fuel from said tank to said pressure container comprising a piston slidably movable in said pressure container to create a vacuum therein. a piston rod carried by said piston, resilient means associated with said piston rod to urge said piston into said container to exert pressure on the liquid therein, a burner, a connection between said container and said burner whereby liquid fuel under pressure is passed from said container to said burner, and means carried by the burner for controlling the passage of liquid fuel to the'burner.

9. A heater for the cooling water of an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, which comprises in combination, a tank for carrying a bulk supply of liquid fuel, a pressure container for carrying liquid fuel, means for drawing liquid fuel from said tank to said pressure container comprising a piston in said container, a piston rod carried by said piston, a vacuum cylinder connected to said intake maniy fold, a piston positioned in s aid vacuum cylinder,

a piston rodl carried by said piston, and means lconnecting the said two piston rods together whereby operation of the internal combustion causes movement of the pressure container piston within the pressure` container. resilient means associated with the pressure container piston rod to urge said piston into said container toy exert pressure on the liquid therein, a burner, a connection between said container and said burner whereby liquid fuel under pressure is Apassed from said container to said burner, and

means carried by the burner for controlling the passage of liquid fuel to the burner.

SALVATORE MORICI. PASQUAL P; BELVEDERE. EDWIN BLOM. A 

